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In a twin-barreled announcement, Microsoft has confirmed the existence of Windows Blue (8.1), and that it has now sold 100 million Windows 8 licenses. This is up from 60 million licenses sold in January, and almost matching sales of Windows 7 , which crossed the 100 million license mark on April 27 2010.

That figure might come as a surprise, especially on the back of the PC market’s precipitous decline, but it’s important to note that we still don’t know how many computers are actually running Windows 8. In that regard, the best figures we have are from Net Applications, which shows Windows 8 with 3.8% of the market at the end of April. Windows 7, on the other hand, had 12% of the market at the same point of its life cycle (six months in). Clearly, then, it isn’t as simple as comparing the number of licenses sold. In absolute terms the PC market was smaller in 2010, accounting for some of the market share disparity — but not three times smaller. In short, Microsoft might’ve sold 100 million Windows 8 licenses, but there certainly aren’t 100 million computers running Windows 8. (As an interesting aside, Windows 7’s market share is set to grow 2% between April and May; Windows 8’s market share, on the other hand, will be lucky if it grows 1% this month).

As for why Microsoft is obfuscating the true installed base of Windows 8, look no further than the very lackluster launch of Windows RT and Windows 8 tablets. Microsoft still hasn’t given us an exact figure of Surface tablets sold, but the current estimate is around 1.6 million — 900,000 Surface RTs (mostly sold in the run-up to Christmas), and 700,000 Surface Pros sold since its launch in January. These figures aren’t terrible for a new device, but when you bear in mind that there hasn’t been any other successful Windows tablets, and that Apple and Samsung sold tens of millions of tablets in the same period, it paints a rather stark picture for Windows 8 and RT. If Microsoft gave us the exact size of the Windows 8/RT install base, we’d be able to definitively work out just how poorly Microsoft’s foray into touchscreen computing has been.

Microsoft also continues to conceal true, objective Windows Store figures. Microsoft’s Windows CFO, Tami Reller, says “the number of apps in the Windows Store has increased 6x since launch,” but fails to put an actual number on the number of real, non-spam apps. As we said back in December, the Windows Store is broken, and Microsoft still hasn’t made any moves to fix it.

As far as Blue is concerned, Microsoft confirms that Blue is an “update [for Windows 8] that will be available later this year” that will improve the Windows 8 touch experience on touchscreen devices, address customer feedback, and add support for new form factors. While Microsoft is keeping schtum on what customer feedback is being addressed, some insider leaks strongly suggest that Windows 8.1 will see the return of the Start button and menu. Microsoft will probably also make other changes that improve the non-touch, mouse-and-keyboard experience of Windows 8, though we’ll have to wait until the public beta of Windows 8.1 in June to find out what they are. As far as smaller form factors go, Windows 8.1 will optimize the touch experience on low-resolution 7- and 8-inch tablets.

All in all, Microsoft’s plan for Windows 8.1 is to make the experience better for the huge number of non-touch laptop and desktop PC users, while also opening up expansion into the rapidly growing low-cost tablet market. This is a sound move, but it’s something that Microsoft should’ve done in the first place, rather than waiting a year and ceding even more territory to iOS and Android.

Tagged In

It would be nice if this article was actually about the success of win8. Win 8 is a great operating system and far superior to 7. People are just afraid of trying new things and always resist change. I’ve been on win8 since beta and I won’t go back. Anybody else that I install win8 for likes it too.

chojin999

Windows8 is a shame and a fraud.
The Metro childish UI makes everything from Microsoft a silly unusable joke.

Daniel Edholm

It is hardly neither. Use it like W7 and you will be fine.

Dvscore

Because your brain can’t comprehend it’s greatness thus results in your failure to understand how great Windows 8 actually is. Instead of crying about it, be about it. Try actually USING Windows 8 and you might be surprised.

I used and tried it for more than 3 months and at the end i still it sucks and Win 7 is better in comparison (non touch screen systems).

Ray C

I’m not sure I can agree it’s a shame and a fraud. I don’t think the majority of Windows users, probably not even half of Windows users access programs via the start menu. I might not even be a quarter, and the ones that do are probably not using it for the majority of their clicks. Most people probably click on a desktop or taskbar icon or the actual file(ie word document) that goes with the application they need opened. If they’re going to use the desktop and taskbar for everything how is that any different that how it works on a tablet OS? Basically using an iPad or an Android tablet is basically like using a computer with no start menu or Apple button, only a desktop. Even the Chrome laptops are just like an Andriod tablet. Yes, there are some frustrating things about the way Windows 8 works because there are some things about the way a tablet works I don’t like, but a lot of that can be tweaked over time by updates. This is the first major UI change in quite a long time after all.

BigOkieTechie

I would like to speak as someone who is an IT professional, has tried Windows 8 (twice now), and disagree:

I would question that Windows 8 is “far superior”. How is it far superior? Because it looks like your Windows phone? Because you don’t have to know how to use multiple, different interfaces on your fixed and portable devices?
I’m not afraid to learn anything. As part of my profession, I’m required to learn changes in software development, hardware, databases, and communications equipment.
I don’t resist change as long as it *makes sense*. Making huge tiles on a screen of a portable device (phone, tablet or laptop) seems obtuse. You have little screen space…and to implement a display system that requires more screen space per item or more action for use by the user to action a function seems like a waste of time. Making it harder for users (common end users) seems like ignoring the needs of the masses in order to change the product for increased profitability’s sake.
I’ve not seen anything that Windows 8 implements that I need as a business professional in IT or a personal user at home. I’ve even started moving 2 of my PCs totally to Linux using Wine to run older games that I play.
For now, Windows 7 serves one purpose for me: If I need DirectX 10/11 support, I use it. Otherwise, I use XP Pro x64.
But, Windows 8 has no benefit to me whatsoever. And as a user who deals with it from multiple arenas, I see no benefit to coughing up money for a mobile interface change and some small internal execution changes.
So IMHO, it’s not that great, it’s not superior, and it’s not worth upgrading to in the future. You’re better off waiting for Windows 9 to see if they make better improvements to pay for, or looking into alternatives that serve your purposes at little/no cost if money is your biggest concern.

xxcorpxx

I as an IT professional – completely disagree with you. You’re entitled to your opinion though, I’m not sure why you would want to post it since it seems narrow minded and shortsighted.

BigOkieTechie

I thought I’d adequately pointed it out.
a) Changes in Windows 8 don’t seem to benefit me as an individual or my clients both within my workplace as well as the customers I have in doing private consulting within homes.
b) Performance of Windows 8 that I’ve seen seems to be neither “superior” nor “great” with respect to Windows 7 as was asserted by the OP.
c) The redesign of the user interface of an OS with such drastic change is, as a business tool, not a good selling point when showing it to consumers as well as IT professionals who would be implementing it within their home/workplace. This is especially true within the professional setting, as fluency of your staff in the use of their computer is what enables work to flow smoothly, timelines to get met, and customers kept happy.
d) In my experience with Windows 8 (both early on and just about 3 weeks ago), the interface is not as direct to use. Having to flip screens to find what you want rather than just moving to a point on the desktop and double-clicking is not as expeditious.
But as I said, I see no benefits to paying to upgrade. Maybe there are people/businesses who look to be at the cutting edge or to having the latest/newest Microsoft has to offer. But, no one I’ve dealt with has a desire to move to it. In my job, all laptops are being bought with Windows 8 with Downgrade Licensing and Windows 7 images installed on them. That’s 100s of laptops per year.
A lot of the PCs we order are still being custom loaded here with Windows XP Professional by our internal IT department. We have a lot of COTS software as well as internally developed applications that are not Windows 7 compatible for one reason or another.
Anyways, I honestly personally know no one who’s updated their PC to Windows 8. I have one friend who got a laptop with Windows 8, but he was unimpressed with it. Most people who get tablets either have the iPad or Android-based tablet. I’ve had no clients ask me to help them upgrade to Windows 8.
I have had one person ( a barber I met at a flea market when looking for used appliances ) ask me to help them with Windows 8, but part of that was learning how to get to Desktop mode so they could use their new laptop. And his words were, when referring to Windows 8:
“Why do they think making it difficult to use makes it better? I wish I could get rid of this crap and get my old Windows back.”
But, I guess drastic changes to OS interface in this day and age what makes an operating system great.

xxcorpxx

Different, not Difficult. Better once accustomed to the differences. Faster once you use it and are used to the new ways of working with it. It’s fluid and fast with a slight learning curve like any new OS.

BigOkieTechie

When you went to use the desktop of Windows Vista to Windows 7, how much difference did you have to learn? New OSes don’t always get a massive interface overhaul.
And again, I will point out: Having to slide screen after screen is not faster or fluid than moving your mouse pointer to an icon location on your desktop and double-clicking. Period. It requires more motion, determining which page everything is on, etc.
MetroUI is an attempt by Microsoft to reduce personnel overhead by merging platform interfaces. In other words, making PCs work like their phones and tablets means more profitability. While making profits is not bad, it’s not good to do it at the detriment of your customer experience.
And when you throw a totally unfamiliar interface at your customers (especially those who have used Windows for 15+ years), you are asking to alienate paying consumers who drive your profits.
It was a dumb move to make such a drastic interface change, and it’s a change to a less efficient interface. Period.
And, tile interfaces are old hat. PoS systems in restaurants have used them for years. It wasn’t that innovative.

Yes I really have used it. As I said, I got the pre-release version and messed with it for a couple days and gave it a chance. The other time was with a barber at a flea market.

If you’d like to talk with the barber I helped with his system and had to deal with the full release version, I’ll be glad to get you his name and number so you can confirm he, as a normal, non-technical end-user, thinks it was bad compared to his previous version of Windows. You can ask him about the big guy who helped him with his laptop. He’ll confirm how I showed him how to do things, how it took more steps, etc., than in his previous Windows.

The interface is just made to look “sleek”…it’s not made to improve the user experience or be more efficient.

Anyways, think what you want about me. I’ve been using Windows since 1992. I’ve been programming the Windows environment since 1993. As a techie who consults to non-tech people as casual home users, I find that most people who have gotten a new laptop with Windows 8 have been dissatisfied. Even with the ability to switch to Desktop, they find it irritating, non-essential, and making them look at other options for future computer purchases.

One guy I knew and worked with (programmer analyst) has gone to Mac now for both home use as well as his music production and recording.

As someone who’s tried Windows 8 and experienced having to work through the new screen/menu/interface layout, I find it more work to get to things than before.

Are there things Windows 8 does faster? Maybe so.

But is it worth that small performance increase (a few seconds?) to have to spend upwards of several hours learning where all the things are located, what admin items have moved, what hasn’t, what things are renamed (Charms anyone?), and risking that my old programs won’t work in Windows 8 for the $199 (Newegg price) for the Windows 8 Upgrade Professional?

From my experience with it, the answer is “no”.

Anyone who loves it, I whole-heartedly encourage you to keep using what you like. That’s your right.

But, I see no benefit (as does my 1000+ employee employer and almost all of my clients) to moving to Windows 8 for every day use.

Ray C

I got the pre-release version as well. I stopped using Windows 8 after a couple days. But you know what after I started using that laptop again and I began to make use of ALT+Tab, and I got completely used to Windows 8. Now I have no problem with it.

CurleeQ

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve seen that sorry excuse for a defense of W8, I’d be a rich man. If you want to be taken seriously, try some cogent arguments like tgrech did above.

Ray C

Yes, MIcrosoft needs to and should have found a way to reduce clicks in Windows 8. I think there are a handful of things that take an extra click or two in Windows 8. But in Windows 7, anything you access on the start menu is an extra click. If it’s not the desktop or taskbar it’s an extra click or two. You must use an awful lot of applications of you need to slide a lot. I think that is something MS could have improved by simply changing the default tile layout. I don’t think they could have use basically the same interface they’ve been using since Win95 for another 20 years. They had to change. I still think most people use the desktop and taskbar. Most programs you install these days install an icon in either place. I think as the years go on, the start button would have just been nastalgia anyway. I was infuriated when I first heard about Metro, then I realize the only time I click on my start menu is to go to control panel, music, documents, and Windows update. I open it to get the search box. Sometimes I open it because an application like Word has a drop down with the most recently opened documents. For the most part I use the desktop and taskbar to open almost everything.
Let me ask you this one question honestly or anyone else who doesn’t like Metro(I myself still have some issues with it). If Windows 8 had come out and it was basically Windows 7 with no start menu, only the desktop and taskbar, would you still dislike it so much?

Ray C

I think the term “business tool” can be misleading. A lot of people who use it in a business or corporate enviroment are not perfoming any special functions. They’re using it to access a business-specific application. They may be using it to access Office applications. They’re using it to access mail or some web database. NOt every business person is a studio engineer or a graphic designer or something like that. I think a lot of businesses use a PC the same way a regular consumer does the majority of that time. Now, I can understand some people saying “you don’t need to upgrade” because you don’t. Windows 8 is not a must have upgrade. But on too many sites, I keep seeing comments that say “Windows 8 can’t work in a business enviroment.” Why not? A lot of what people don’t like comes down to personal preference, and in a business enviroment most of what we do amounts to us clicking on desktop and taskbar icons most of the day.
I think something as small as having multiple metro interfaces could go a long way: The default layout, a no tile layout you customize yourself, and a classic layout with only the icons you would normall have on your desktop and taskbar would go a long way and possibly one or two of the most popular from the start menu like music and control panel. I think something like adding a taskbar to Metro could go a long way as well.

Ray C

There isn’t something I necessarily “need” that is specific to Windows 7 either. I’m an IT professional myself. I like 7 much better than XP, but I wouldn’t say I needed to upgrade. I’d have to see more specific details on your needs for screen space because I can’t comment on that without knowing exactly what they’re trying to do. Even in Windows 7, the only time I have more than one thing on a screen at once is when I’m dragging and dropping. If I need multiple things up at once, I will use multiple screens. As an IT person, I can honestly say that most people don’t have much screen space anyway because when I look at their PCs, they’ve place almost EVERYTHING on the desktop. I had WinXP x64 before I got Windows 7. I really see no need for me to still use it, but I guess you must have something special you’re doing that causes you to need it. I don’t think Windows 8 is a must-have upgrade, but I certainly wouldn’t tell anyone in need of a new computer to shy away from Windows 8. I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with Windows 8, just some things MS should have implemented or configured better.

I don’t much like being outside of my comfort zone, but I try things with an open-mind. With that said, the conclusion of my trail with Windows 8 Beta (which I actually had to use since my Win7 desktop craped out) was that the disk space Win8 took up would be better used as internet cache for my Linux install.

The UI is very clunky, and I was constantly fighting the interface. It seemed like there was two of every app, with the Metro internet explorer not support plug-ins, I’d have to switch to the desktop, and that constant switching really took it’s toll on user experience. Also, I never much liked the ribbon UI as I’m not a heavy mouse user. If I didn’t know so many keyboard shortcuts from previous installs of Windows, navigating and using Windows 8 would have been unbearable. As it was, it was just a piss poor experience. Not even the install of Classic Shell mitigated all the problems.

Now, I suppose I could get use to Windows 8 (not that I would pay for it, especially in it’s current state), but Microsoft’s reaction has been even worse. Totally ignoring the outcry during the beta and previews, Skewing numbers, further forcing that crappy UI down our throats, and so on.

Windows 8 flop is well deserved, and any sort of success it has had is both very lucky and very generous of the consumer, regardless of “under the hood” improvements. The interface is key to overall experience. If the very way people interact with their computer is clunky and non-intuitive, all the improvements in the world can’t make the experience great.

xxcorpxx

Wow, you tried the beta and you feel the need to write all this nonsense like you are somehow an expert. Thanks for this old and tired argument.

Whoa, look out; an “IT professional” who loves his Surface RT. That MUST mean your opinion has more merit than mine. /s

As a Win8 fanboy, this argument must really sting considering it’s STILL relevant, but that still isn’t a reason to get all booty-tickled. Just admit it’s a flaw in the software and move on. Besides, I’m sure Microsoft will fix it… eventually…. maybe… I mean, they’ve only known about it before public release.

xxcorpxx

About human nature and the fact that some people cant handle change, yup. They know.

Shortsighted crying

CurleeQ

Yup, that’s straight out of the fanboy playbook:
Doesn’t like W8 (regardless of reason)?
1- Hasn’t tried it
2 – Resistant to change
3 – A moron
4 – A whiner
5 – Not to be taken seriously
Rinse and repeat.

xxcorpxx

That sums it up nicely, well put.
Bunch of loud, obnoxious noise. nothing ever changes, same stupid people saying the same stupid sh*t every time we get a new Windows version.

Whoopee Doo for you!
You notice that no-one prevents you from using it. Why is it SO IMPORTANT that you want change forced on the rest of Us?

meddle0ne

No one is forcing you to buy it or use it.

tgrech

With the right modifications(Really just involves one or two downloads), it’s like Windows 7.5(The interface of Windows 7 with the speed and features of Windows 8).
As far as the kernel goes it’s moving in the right direction(Windows 8 got rid of a lot of Windows 7’s fat), it was just a single part of the UI they got wrong, and suddenly everyone starts crying.

chojin999

Windows8 UAC it’s atrocious too, forced. It can’t be really disabled from the UI anymore. It must be disabled thru a registry hack or powershell, then the Microsoft useless Metro apps store would stop working but who is going to waste money on that crap anyway?

Windows8 has had many reliability issues with NTFS and the new ReFS filesystem too.

tgrech

You can definitely turn UAC off from the UI, I did it just to check then, control panel has barely changed from Windows 7.
ReFS is also an overall much better and faster file system than NTFS.
Windows 8 boot up times have been cut down massively from Windows 7, overall size has been trimmed, it can now run on lower power hardware without bloating it anywhere near as much, and power consumption has dropped a fair amount.

Windows 8 also seems to handle multiple monitors much better, it’s also optimised better for modern hardware like bulldozer, SSDs, UASP, ect, the task manager and control panel have more features(when you learn how to use it).

It literally takes one or two downloads to make Windows8 look and feel exactly like Windows 7, but with much more modern features under the hood.

Are you trying to use the basic slider?
Administrative Tools → Local Security Policy, look on the left and click Local Policies followed by Security Options, and scroll down to the bottom, you will be able to fully disable all the parts of UAC, without having to go into the registry(Though you have very little reason to do so anyway).

xxcorpxx

Exactly tgrech… I don’t get why 99% of users would disable it. Just because your some so called power user? It’s never been an issue in Windows 8.

Marrach

Guess what, TechBoy– Most people have only ONE– count ’em, ONE monitor. Only Techs & Programmers and Gamers have Two..or Four.

Faster Boot? Are you REALLY sitting there looking at a stopwatch while your computer turns on to the desktop? I go and refill my coffee cup. By the time I sit back down, there you are. Do I care that Win 8 might actually boot like 2 seconds less than Win 7? Uhm…Nope!

And M$ could have greatly improved the OS without doing a total UI re-work. The UI is just that– An Interface. I use the PC through the Interface. Once I get it working, I don’t CARE what’s under the hood. So it is with the millions of Windows Users. If anything, it’s hysterical that M$ has taking a Windows ICON (The Start Menu) and decided to trash it, only to find that what started as an Icon, actually became Socially Iconic. They should just let it be. The Customers have Spoken.

tgrech

I know quite a lot of people who use multi monitors, it’s getting much bigger within gaming, and it’s normally cheap/free to set up asymmetrically because most people have an old monitor around or gets a new one every few years or so.

It’s not just a few seconds faster than Windows 7, there’s a noticeable difference, and with slower laptop drives this can be pretty big, and some people like their PC to be ready to use when they turn it on, especially when mobile.
Personally I don’t care much for the standard UI when it’s so easily changed, at the end of the day the most important part of the OS is what’s under the UI, the bit that makes everything work, the part I believe an OS should truly be rated on, and the part that the most money and time is spent developing.
GUI’s are always a matter of preference, whether or not a little button is there just because it’s socially iconic seems like it would be fairly low on the list of concerns. Personally I don’t care that much whether what I’m using is iconic or in style, I much prefer things clean and simple, which the “Modern UI” did fairly well with the right colours (A bit of grey and black with the removal of the transparency).

Marrach

“…I know quite a lot of people who use multi monitors, it’s getting much bigger within gaming…”

Again– good for you. And I’ll bet they’re all ordinary folks, Waitress gals, & truck drivers. No– I’m not sneering at them, I talking about people who AREN’T in the Tech Industry, but use and need PC’s as Household APPLIANCES.

“…Personally I don’t care much for the standard UI when it’s so easily changed…”

That’s a fascinating way of looking at it– considering that what Windows appealed in people was the ability to CUSTOMIZE. Yet in your comment, like a lot of the other Technocrats, i hear a bit of the true Technical Autocrat: “This is what I want it to be and the rest of you MUST cope with what I give you…if you don’t, then you’re stupid and have no business touching a PC….”

That’s the attitude of the Linux Geeks…which is why Linux is a Backwater.

“…Personally I don’t care that much whether what I’m using is iconic or in style, I much prefer things clean and simple, which the “Modern UI” did fairly well with the right colours…”

But it seems that YOUR style & preferences is what must be enforced on the rest of us? I repeat: NOTHING prevents you from using the Metro Interface. Why is it SO IMPORTANT that your Preference must be ENFORCED on everyone else? In one breath you say the GUI is unimportant– but then you basically snarl in disgust that the rest of us don’t get in Line with your GUI preference.

Having said that– your aesthetic & Technical arguments about Win 8 are most probably no-where on M$’s sheets. DOSGuy is correct in his analysis– the Metro GUI is ALL about MARKETING and selling Front page Icon space to Service providers like FaceBook, Weather.com and the like. And that calculation of what Window 8 looks like has NOTHING to do with what you, the Technocrat, want to see ‘Under the Hood’.

BigOkieTechie

I have to say…I can get distros of Linux that most basic users could never tell that it wasn’t Windows.
Most end-users are oblivious to what it is they’re using. As long as they can order from marthastewart.com or newegg.com or some other site inside a browser, they don’t care.

BTW, Linux is so backwater that it’s taken about 2-3% of Windows home market without a single major corporation pushing it out into the marketplace. I’d say that’s pretty significant for a product with no multi-billion dollar marketing budget.

Ray C

2-3% is probably less than the percentage of PC users who are actually power or techie users? That’s probably less than that the percentage of PC users who would consider themselves Linux savvy. As for billion dollar marketing. That’s what companies do. MS doesn’t need to market Windows. It’s Windows. People are going to buy it. People will find out one way or another when a new Windows is out. Marketing it is is just smart business because everything is so media-hype driven these days. And Linux does need it to get 3% share. They’re got tons of free advertisement. During the Napster years and many of the other piracy cases, Linux got a lot of free press. Sometimes press is better than marketing. A lot of people who wanted stuff for free or cheap piggy-backed themselves to the open source movement. The chatter about open source was really big for a little while. Also, some Linux distros did do a little bit of marketing, not to mention probably half of Windows users know that one tech guy who is always spouting the virtues of Linux. I have nothing against Linux, but I do think the idea that they magically got 3% of market share just based solely off the quality of the product is misleading. I also think the idea that Linux is still a relatively unknown entity and the probable true percentage of people who know something about Linux is misleading and makes 3% seem a lot higher than it is. We’re still waiting for this wave of Linux. Everyone always said when people learned more about Linux and more distros like Lindos became popular, there would be this big switch to Linux. It hasn’t happened yet. There are some people who work on a Linux box or at least trough one and still haven’t made the switch. You’d at least think Linux phones and tablets would be doing better. That’s not even an area where Microsoft dominates in.

tgrech

Although they may not be your typical consumer, they’re mostly gamers, which a lot of people nowadays are.
I never implied people should use anything, I merely pointed out my preference and why I like the new system, I really don’t care how people like their GUI, I just pointed out that we all have our differences and we can all easily set things how we want, so there is no point complaining about the “Metro UI”.
Linux is great in the way it offers this freedom, there are many many distributions, allowing many different styles.
It’s also quite humourous that you conclude that Metro was made for services like Facebook, when Facebook havn’t even created a Windows App. Metro GUI is nothing new, there have been many UIs like it, most of them designed to aid use on touch screens or other systems(e.g- Wii controller). Metro UI doesn’t have adverts or any rubbish like that, and MS barely intended to make any money out of the store of the interface(They even allowed people to sell their apps with no fee/charge if they make a demo version, going purely off this you could say MS has been more generous and pro-consumer than Nintendo, Sony, Apple, and Google(Though whether that’s intentional or not is questionable)).
Whether you like it or not, sorting the Windows 8 kernel out to work on lighter systems, more modern systems, new instruction sets, ect was one of their highest concerns, and I can assure you the work they did on this can not simply be rushed, the GUI was just something they moved over from their Windows Phone after people commented on how much they liked it(Before everyone suddenly jumped on the MetroUI hate bandwagon).

xxcorpxx

OH because you don’t need all that support and speed, NONE of us do? Get real- these are only a few of the many reasons that Windows 8 is better, faster and more secure. If you dont’ care, why are you posting this crap?

I tried the Win8 beta in a VM. I played around with it for a bit, then I wanted to shut down the (virtual) computer. How do you do that? I searched the Start Screen and couldn’t find it, so I gave up and closed the VM. The next time I used it, I discovered the shutdown options in an area called “Charms”. Seriously?

So, I’m using a program and now I want to close it. How do you do that? There’s no X in the corner. I searched the web, and the answer was that you’re not supposed to close programs, just minimize them. If you really want to close them, press Alt-F4 (because using a mouse is SO 1990s), or go to the Task Manager and force the program to shut down. Wow.

Short of pinning things, I never did figure out how to find anything on the Start Screen. I didn’t use Windows 8 long enough to learn how to use it. It has nothing to do with fear of change.

Everyone knows that Linux is free, so why does it have so little market share? I think it’s because there’s a learning curve when you’re used to Windows. Well, there’s a learning curve to Windows 8 when you’re used to Windows 1-7. If there’s going to be a learning curve, why not just to switch to Linux or buy a Mac? I’ve stayed with Windows because I don’t want to invest a lot of time learning a new system, but if Microsoft is going to force a learning curve on everyone, maybe it will be enough to finally convince people to explore alternative operating systems.

So, we all remember that Vista wasn’t popular, and Microsoft went out of their way to listen to customer feedback while Windows 7 was in beta, and they released their most popular operating system ever. With Windows 8, they went out of their way to reject customer feedback. When users found a way to bring back the Start Menu, Microsoft took it away! Why was Microsoft trying to so hard to force unwanted changes on their customers? Money.

Apple gets a cut of every app sold in the Apple Store, and Microsoft started drooling at the possibility of getting a cut of every Windows app. Can you imagine if Microsoft got even 1% of every program sold for a platform that has 90% of the global desktop market? It’s a CEO’s wet dream come true! Microsoft execs knew perfectly well that Metro was unpopular, but it didn’t have to be popular right away. Even if they lost significant market share, the Windows Store would make a fortune! Microsoft hasn’t given up on that dream. Sooner or later you’re going to have to buy Windows 8.x or switch to Linux or Mac. They’re willing to lose customers for this potential gold mine. They’ll make Windows 8.x as good as they possibly can, but they’re not going to abandon Metro. They would abandon support for non-Metro apps if they thought that they could! Microsoft has a long-term plan, and that plan involves getting everyone to buy their software from the Windows Store. Any customer request to make it easier to use traditional Windows apps will be ignored. The desktop only remains because it has to, but it’s days are numbered. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

Daniel Edholm

You close Metro apps by moving the mouse to the top of the screen and drag the app to the bottom (a hand will appear at the top). Or, you could simply switch app (e.g. desktop), move the mouse to the top left hand corner and either close it with middle mouse button or right click -> close. The latter is the one I use.
Finding things I do the same way that I did with W7, I search. Otherwise I just keep the programs I use on the start screen and put them in a group.
As for the last part I disagree, but that is just me. You might be right, and you might not.

john3330

People are not afraid of new things. I was not afraid to try new things. I tried windows 8 and didn’t like it. The UI looks like a cartoon. Unfriendly and hard to use on a regular laptop. I haven’t found it superior to windows 7.

meddle0ne

Windows 8 looks like a cartoon, yet most of the people complaining about it will talk up the bubble gum theme that XP has.

gremlin22

But XP theme can be reverted to Win 2000 theme.
Can windows 8 do that?

stuart hopkins

The fear of trying something new and resisting change is rubbish, It didn’t stop people learning how to use a iPad or Android, Its the crap experience of operating that GUI train wreck called Windows 8 that people are resisting…

and OEMs just buy them, because, why not. It is not that they think they would pass them on to real people with their brand new PCs, no! They just like to amass them in case in the future there will be a shortness of them

chojin999

What they think doesn’t mean squat. People already rejected the useless childish unusable Metro/ModernUI crap fraud and all the Microsoft products featuring it.

Right, it’s what you think that means squat. I pitty them, because that didn’t hire you, with your insightful insights

BigOkieTechie

When you buy a new laptop, you can’t get anything other than a Windows 8 license on a new model. That’s how Microsoft pushes their new products on you through their corporate partners.
You *can* get the “downgrade license”. But even if get your laptop from Dell with Windows 7, Microsoft still considers that a “Windows 8 License w/Downgrade”.
That’s how their numbers get fluffed. If MS counted what really got installed, Windows 8 would not be doing as well as Microsoft reports.

Besides forcing the Microsoft store down customers’ throats, the inability to adjust the “Metro” UI’s size, the disappearance of a usable start menu/launcher, etc. (I’ll skip all the others gripes I have.) Windows 8 is not fit for businesses or for power users.

Sure, it’s great for web browsing and media streaming… But If I want to do only that, I’ll get an android tablet for a fraction of the cost.

Don’t mind the photo, I work in IT and Windows 8 is a nightmare when it comes to businesses. It’s hard enough to train users with a new office, but to train them to use Metro??? Never in a life time!

I’ve tried to like Windows 8, I really did. But Microsoft wanted to milk the cow by adding the store and trying to copy android/ios thus mading sure I wouldn’t.

METRO IS FOR TOUCH. Do all of your business users use touch PCs? Unbelievable…

CodeCruiser

>METRO IS FOR TOUCH
THEN WHY THE FUCK INCLUDE IT ON NON TOUCH DESKTOP COMPUTERS?

Jesse Gomez

I agree, but I could care less about the UI problems (as I can adapt to it). However, to me, the real Windows 8 problem is functionality. As you said, it may be ok for doing basic stuff in a PC, but try installing specialized software on it and you’ll find yourself trying to jump through hoops and loops to get something working. As an IT Professional myself I don’t recommend this OS for businesses that need a properly functioning PC. I would say businesses need to wait a couple of years until W8 get’s its kinks sorted out.

I am so sorry that business people can’t figure out that start screen is start button and on click of button and you get to desktop. The best feature I like is 2 monitor control is so much better in Windows 8 and no I am not a gamer or IT just a customer who uses his PC for home use which would help businesses. I use start screen on one monitor to keep track of live tiles and use desktop on other screen. I can watch 2 games in hd on pc at same time so much easier on windows 8 and when not needed go to 1 screen all by hitting one button.

I really don’t understand all the criticism Windows 8 has got. I, as a power user, use it every day on both my laptop and desktop, and I like it a lot. I use apps frequently, and I like most of them. And not just because I tell myself that I must, but because I find them usefull. They give me quick access to things I want, just like apps do on Android or iOS or any other equivalent OS. They are easily accessible and show information on Live Tiles in a smart and fast way.

Anyway, let’s say that I didn’t like the Metro UI (yes, that will forever be its name), it’s not like it’s hard to switch to desktop and just stay there? If I wanted, I would never have to see Metro ever again after startup (agreed that the option to boot to desktop should have been included som start). Programs are just as accessible as they were before. Pin them, group them, put them on the desktop, search for them. However you like to start them, it is still possible in mostly the same way as before. And I still have not met any program that can run on W7 that does not run on W8.

W8 is not perfect in any way, nor any OS that I have ever tried yet, but for me it is close. Sure, I don’t like the new way to power off the system (do they really need to hide it like that?) or the charms menu on desktop, but then I don’t use it. Simple as that. I mean, how many have ever created a portfolio on W7? Or in any previous Windows system? Probably not. Do you hate W7 because the option is always there when you right click on desktop and go to new? No? That is because you choose not to use it. Just like it is very possible to ignore everything with Metro in W8.

Your love for metro tiles and “apps” clearly isn’t shared. For people who have been working on a computer for years using “programs” to do work, the tiles are just a pain in the ass. We don’t need to see what someones doing on Facebook or see what the weathers like. We need to do work.

But for your crowd, the casual user, sure I can see how the tablets are taking off.

Ok, we get that you have made your decision about Windows 8 and like a real man you won’t change your opinion.

One more thing, you have forgotten to mention this part of reller’s talk:

Microsoft’s “licenses sold” numbers are “sell in” numbers. That means these figures include sales of licenses to OEMs, as well as Windows 8 upgrades. They don’t include copies of Windows 8 sold via volume-licensing agreements. The minute that a PC rolls off the manufacturing line with a new version of Windows on it, it is counted as a “license sold,” Reller explained.

The OEM licenses are only those which are installed on a produced PC. Not just an issued license. The number also does not include the volume license like the one our university (with 25000 students) got.

CheshireCat

Windows 8 had so much potential – it runs and boots much faster than Win7, the ribbon interface on explorer is great for heavy mouse users like me, it’s very stable and has nice options like the ability to pause a file during copy/pasting. However, Microsoft’s stubborn decision to push the hideous Metro UI onto desktop users and its empty and buggy app store are turning this into another Vista fiasco. After a month or so of Win8 I turned to Linux Mint and haven’t looked back ever since. Smartphones are great, I own a Galaxy SIII and I love it, but the desktop is not going away anytime soon and MS is very stupid to sacrifice the one market they dominate in. The reality is that touch is for viewing/consuming content, and desktops are there to produce it. MS needs to take better care of their desktop users, because they are not going away, and if the software companies start aiming at the Linux/MacOS desktop market that may just be the deathknell for Microsoft. They won’t beat Android and Mac at the mobile arena, and they may even lose the desktop users with antics like these.

BigOkieTechie

Linux Mint is nice. That’s for sure. My best friend turned me onto it. I liked it as much as I liked the Kubuntu 9 Linux with the old KDE 3.5. So nice to use.

MS should watch their step. There are some real potential killers out there.

Well they can remove one for me, my new Zenbook Prime came with W8 and now runs Ubuntu 13.04! So sold licences doesn’t equal running copies

meddle0ne

“Ms. Reller said Microsoft had sold about 100 million licenses for Windows 8 since the software was introduced, roughly in line with the number of Windows 7 licenses sold in the comparable amount of time after its introduction. While research firms like IDC are showing double-digit declines in PC shipments, Ms. Reller said those figures reflected sales into retail channels, not to actual customers. She said Microsoft was seeing consistent growth in PCs going through the online activation process that everyone with a new PC has to do.”

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I tried Win8 and it sucks. I gave it a week till my computer became unusable. It is a sub-standard product that was not ready to be released. If you want to pay to be a beta tester go right ahead. Microsoft forces OEM’s to sell only Win 8. That is the only way they sold that many copies. This is the result of the abuse of their Monopolistic power. It has nothing to do with a consumer choice or the free market.

BigOkieTechie

The really sad part of all this Windows 8 situation:

Ballmer will remain in place, and Tami Reller and/or Julie Larson-Green will be made the scapegoat as the tradition in Redmond in the past when MS suffers.

Someone else “departs the company”…Ballmer loses part of his bonus.

Ray C

I still say that Metro needs to be tweaked not completely overhauled or done away with. A lot of people complain about the start button. How many of us really use the start menu itself more than the desktop and taskbar? If we do how often do we really go to all programs? How often are we really clicking on something more than Music, Downloads, or Documents? How is that any different than using Metro. If Windows 8 had come out and it was basically Windows 7 without the start menu, only the desktop and taskbar would many still have the same complaints? MS just needs to tweak Windows 8. Things like shut down and all applications should have been a tile. No one would know to click on their username or go to the corners of the screen without looking it up. They just need to make some changes to make it easier to use. People should not have to figure out how to do things that were simple to do in Windows 7. Most of the problems are just tweaks, minor changes, or personal preference.

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